Monday, October 31, 2005

GHOST RIDER MOVIE UPDATE

Sony Pictures has provided The Continuum with a first look at Wes Bentley as Blackheart from next summer's Ghost Rider movie.

In the image, Bentley is flanked by Mathew Wilkinson (Abigor) and Daniel Frederiksen (Wallow) at the Old Train Station.

During a recent question-and-answer session, writer/director Mark Steven Johnson described his take on the character.

"I did a lot of research on demonology and one of the stories I founded fascinated was the whole rebel angel story, where Lucifer led the charge into Heaven and when he lost, St. Michael cast him down and all the rebel angels became fallen angels," Johnson said.

"One of the mythologies I really liked, some of the fallen angels didn't follow Lucifer into Hell. Some landed in the desert, some fell into the ocean, some kept falling, and they became elemental demons, demons that hide in the elements. I thought that was a really cool idea and so that was kind of the basis for Blackheart coming here.

"Blackheart's tired of waiting for the End of Days, so, like a lot of young people, he says I'm going to give my dad the finger and do it myself. So he comes here and he begins collecting these demons. So Johnny (Blaze) as the Ghost Rider must find them and bring them back."

Click on the image above for a larger image and look for more on Ghost Rider soon here in The Continuum.

ULTIMATE X-MEN PREVIEW

Brian K. Vaughan is closing out his run on Ultimate X-Men with the conclusion of "Magnetic North" in Ultimate X-Men #65.

In the issue, which features art by Stuart Immonen, the X-Men find themselves in the middle of a battle that they cannot possibly hope to win against Emma Frost's students, the Ultimates, and their greatest nemesis ever, Magneto.

In a series of events orchestrated by Magneto from his own jail cell, "Magnetic North" has already seen Lorna Dane murder an innocent crowd, her resulting incarceration, and brother fighting brother as Cyclops tries to stop Havok from freeing Lorna.

Ultimate X-Men #65 also features Part 2 of the Ultimate Vision back-up story running through the Ultimate line. And the issue features a second cover of Ultimate Vision by upcoming Ultimate Extinction artist Brandon Peterson.

Ultimate X-Men #65 goes on sale on Nov. 23.

Click on the thumbnails for larger images.

NEW STAR WARS TITLE

To celebrate its twentieth anniversary, Dark Horse is completely re-launching its Star Wars publishing line. The new series Knights of the Old Republic is the first of many new Star Wars titles to debut throughout the coming year.

Here's how Dark Horse describes the book:

"Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is a new ongoing monthly series set four thousand years before the rise of the Empire and the fall of Anakin Skywalker (and eight years prior to the events in the LucasArts' Knights of the Old Republic video game). On the planet Taris, a young Padawan named Zayne has been framed for a heinous and brutal crime against the Jedi Order. Suddenly a wanted fugitive on the run from his Jedi Masters, Zayne is forced to make an alliance with the under-city's criminals, con artists, and petty thieves he'd previously vowed to bring to justice. Staying alive is the first order of business but if he's ever to clear his name, Zayne must make this new alliance work ... providing he survives the experience."

The book is written by John Jackson Miller, with art by Brian Ching and cover bys Travis Charest.

"With Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, we've worked to create a series that will please the video gamers and veterans of the Star Wars expanded universe, while being completely accessible to the new reader," Miller said. We've really worked to capture a lot of the movie magic, mixing major galaxy-shaking events with fun character interplay. There's a good mix of light and dark moments.

"Our series very much goes for Episode IV's feeling of being thrust into events. A Padawan without a good handle on his abilities is suddenly accused of a horrible crime -- setting both the Jedi Order and the Republic after him. His only hope lies with the criminals he once hunted, raising a number of interesting questions: Can a Jedi live as a scoundrel? Can he survive to clear his name? And, once the wider mystery is revealed, is his vindication in the best interests of the galaxy? A wise Jedi Master once said, 'Always in motion is the future.' So is a fugitive Jedi -- if he wants to live!"

The first issue goes on sale on Jan. 25.

IMAGE COMICS' FELL GOES BACK TO PRESS

Image Comics on Monday announced that Fell #1 and #2 have both sold out and are going back to press.

Each issue will feature the same cover and content and no changes will be made to the printings aside from an
indicator in the indicia that the books are second printings. The new printings are targeted to be in stores in early December.

Fell, by Warren Ellis and Ben Templesmith, has a qunique format: a 24-page book featuring 16 pages of story and several pages of "back matter" - text stuff, sketches, background material and letters -- for $1.99.

"Everyone except Image thought I was crazy for devising the format," Ellis said. "The great and the good told me I was stupid for pitching a smaller, denser book for less money. To me, this is a huge
vindication, and a justification for Ben Templesmith killing himself
to produce his career best. It's my hope now that more people follow
us into this format and make it a real alternative for short stories
and serialisations. And I hope that the people who gambled some
pocket change on Fell got what they wanted, and continue to do so."

"Many many many thanks to all the people who've come out and decided to have a try of a non super hero creator owned book in a new format," said Templesmith. "At first I thought simply working with
Warren Ellis was the biggest honor, but selling out of what was even
overprinted for #1 and #2 just takes the cake for me. I am, to put
it mildly, well chuffed and humbled. Cheers to all who bought it, and
of course, especially Warren for letting me be the guy to draw it."

Fell #1 was printed above the standard Image overprint, plus the first issue was overshipped and still sold out, while Fell #2 sold out even quicker despite its overprint.

BRIEFLY

* Shannon Elizabeth and Gary Cole provide guest-voices in "Harlottown," the Nov. 20 episode of King of the Hill on Fox. In th episode, when Hank and Peggy try to clean up a historic Arlen landmark, they find out that the town was founded by harlots and was once a place of ill-repute. The new city manager uses the city's rediscovered history to turn the town into a tourist trap for the adult porn industry. Frustrated by the changes, Hank decides to move the family -- that is, until he is aided by adult actress Candee (Elizabeth).

* A reveal of some of the characters from X3 will be made within the next two weeks in USA Today, according to 20th Century Fox.

* Tony Harris is the new cover artist of Dark Horse Comics' Conan, beginning with #24.

* Dabel Bros. have produced The Continuum with a preview of its The Wood Boy & The Burning Man Trade Paperback, due in late November. The collection also contains a preview of of DB Pro's upcoming adaptation of Raymond E. Feist's Magician, featuring art by Brett Booth and a script by Michael Avon Oeming and Bryan J.L. Glass.

Click on the thumbnails below for larger images.

* Coming Tuesday: DC news -- and much more!!!

COMICS CONTINUUM BACK ISSUES

In case you missed The Continuum's recent coverage, here are some links. Click on the date to get the day's full report.